Mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valve, borehole system and method

ABSTRACT

A mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valve including a mechanical component having a locked position and an unlocked position, a hydraulic component in operational communication with the mechanical component, the hydraulic component including a portion that is unresponsive to pressure events with the mechanical component in the locked position and responsive to pressure events with the mechanical component in the unlocked position. A borehole system including a string disposed within a borehole, the string including a valve. A method of operating a mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valve for a borehole includes shifting a mechanical component of the mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valve from a locked position to an unlocked position, inducing a differential pressure on a hydraulic component of the mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valve, opening a hydraulic valve of the mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valve.

BACKGROUND

In the downhole resource exploration and recovery industry, boreholesare created in a formation believed to harbor a desired resource. Suchboreholes are completed using a number of strings of materials and toolsto achieve certain control and production requirements. Many differenttypes of completions are in use and have been previously used givingoperators a large number of options to develop a completion strategy fora particular borehole system. Nevertheless, the art still continues toseek alternate methodologies, techniques and systems to improveoperations by for example reducing cost and time for completion.

SUMMARY

A mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valveincluding a mechanical component having a locked position and anunlocked position, a hydraulic component in operational communicationwith the mechanical component, the hydraulic component including aportion that is unresponsive to pressure events with the mechanicalcomponent in the locked position and responsive to pressure events withthe mechanical component in the unlocked position.

A borehole system including a string disposed within a borehole, thestring including a valve.

A method of operating a mechanically lockable and unlockablehydraulically activated valve for a borehole includes shifting amechanical component of the mechanically lockable and unlockablehydraulically activated valve from a locked position to an unlockedposition, inducing a differential pressure on a hydraulic component ofthe mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valve,opening a hydraulic valve of the mechanically lockable and unlockablehydraulically activated valve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way.With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numberedalike:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mechanically lockable and unlockablehydraulically activated valve as disclosed herein;

FIG. 2A is a cross section view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in amechanically locked unpressured valve closed position;

FIG. 2B is a cross section view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in amechanically locked pressured valve closed position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the hydraulic component ofthe embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a cross section view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in amechanically unlocked unpressured valve closed position;

FIG. 4B is a cross section view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in amechanically unlocked pressured valve closed position;

FIG. 5 is a cross section view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in amechanically unlocked unpressured valve open position;

FIG. 6-8 are sequential cross section views of another embodiment of ahydraulic component employing an indexing configuration; and

FIG. 9 is a view of a borehole system including a number of valves asdisclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosedapparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification andnot limitation with reference to the Figures.

Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a mechanically lockable andunlockable hydraulically activated valve 10 is illustrated. In thisembodiment the valve employs a mechanical component 12 that isconfigured to lock and unlock the valve 10 through the action of amechanical intervention such as a shifting tool or similar. Thecomponent 12 through interaction discussed further below will prevent ahydraulic component 14 of the valve 10 from reacting the hydraulicpressure when the mechanical component 12 is in one position and allowthe hydraulic component 14 to react to hydraulic pressure when themechanical component 12 is in another position. The hydraulic component14 is configured to respond to hydraulic pressure such as a tubingpressure increase to permit flow through the valve 10 from a source offluid on one side of the valve to a volume on the other side of thevalve 10. In an embodiment, the source is outside of the valve 10 suchas a formation flowing fluid into a tubing string through the valve 10.Such fluid may come through a screen to remove undesired particulatematter. Alternatively, the fluid flow could be in the opposite directionsuch that fluid moves from the inside of the tubing string out into theformation through the valve 10. The valve itself provides foroperational certainty that it will not open due to pressure fluctuationprior to the mechanical component being unlocked and also provides thebenefit that the mechanical component 12 can be unlocked when desiredwithout the valve 10 immediately being open to fluid flow. The valvetherefore provides significant utility enabling other operations whilealso reducing the equipment needed in the hole and reducing number ofruns needed to operate a borehole system.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the individual parts of the FIG. 1 embodiment ofvalve 10 are described and their interaction explained. Valve 10includes a body 16 within which mechanical component 12 is movable andupon which hydraulic component 14 is mounted. The mechanical component12 comprises a sleeve 18, a sleeve extension 20 and a mandrel 22attached to the sleeve extension. It is to be understood that theinterconnect feature 20 and mandrel 22 may in some embodiments be onepiece of material. The mandrel 22 extends into a piston housing 24through seal 26 and through a piston 28. The piston includespiston-mandrel seal 30 and piston-housing seal 32. Piston 28 furtherincludes a mechanical interconnect feature 34 such as a colletconfigured to create a connection with a valve stem 36 of hydraulicvalve 38 under conditions described below. The hydraulic valve 38includes valve seals 40 that seal against valve housing 42.

Still referring to FIG. 2A, a hydraulic actuation port 44 and a flowport 46 are provided through the body 16. Hydraulic actuation port 44allows tubing (of which the body 16 forms a part) ID pressure access toa space 52 defined by the piston housing 24 and the piston 28. Increasedpressure in the tubing ID increases pressure in the space 52 resultingin a differential pressure across the piston 28 and accordingly movementof the piston 28. Flow port 46 allows fluid flow between outside of thevalve 10 and inside the body 16, when the hydraulic valve 38 is open. Itis also noted that, in an embodiment, a flow path 48 may be definedbetween a screen 50 and the flow port 46. It is to be understood howeverthat the valve 10 is not limited to use with a screen.

Turning now to operation of the valve 10, and to FIGS. 2A-5 in sequence,the valve 10 is runnable into a borehole 54 on a string 56 to a desiredlocation. In some embodiments this will be as a part of a lowercompletion after deployment of which, other borehole operations mightoccur. One of the benefits of the arrangement disclosed herein is thatsuch other borehole operations may be conducted after installation ofvalve 10 without concern for inadvertent hydraulic actuation of thevalve 10 since the mechanical component 12 prevents such hydraulicactuation until specifically enabled by repositioning of the mechanicalcomponent 12. It is noted in passing that prior art systems requiredadditional equipment and runs to render lower completions installed forsimilar purpose but of different types than that disclosed herein safefor other borehole operations. These of course significantly increasecost and require additional rig time.

Valve 10 in FIG. 2A is in the run position with the hydraulic valve 38closed and locked and the mechanical component 12 locked. FIG. 3provides a larger view and hence should be referred to simultaneouslywith FIG. 2A in the following discussion. The distinction in position orattitude of piston 28, and a resilient member 58 such as spring inoperable communication therewith can be seen between FIG. 2A and FIG.2B. This is due to an increase hydraulic pressure in the tubing IDcausing a differential pressure across piston 28 as discussed above. Itwill be noted that because mandrel 22 is in contact with valve stem 36,during this pressure event, two things occur. The valve stem 36 andaccordingly the hydraulic valve 38 are immobile and because the mandrel22 is in contact with the valve stem 36, the interconnection feature 34cannot engage the valve stem 36 and so movement of the piston 28 willnot result in any impetus to the hydraulic valve 38 to move. This isillustrative of the pressure insensitivity of valve 10 while themechanical component 12 is in its locked position. When the mechanicalcomponent 12 is in the unlocked position, this same activity pursuant toa pressure event, will result in the hydraulic valve 38 moving to anopen position (addressed further below).

At a time when it is desired to make the valve 10 responsive tohydraulic pressure actuation, a shifting tool is run in the hole toshift the mechanical component 12 to an unlocked position. In FIG. 2A,the component 12 is illustrated as a sleeve 18. The shift in position ofsleeve 18 can be seen in HG 4A along with a shift in the position ofextension 20 and mandrel 22. The valve 10 is now unlocked and upon apressure event the hydraulic component 14 will react resulting inopening of the hydraulic valve 38. It is to be understood that the terms“responsive” and “unresponsive” as used herein relate to the hydraulicvalve 38 responding to a pressure event or the hydraulic valve 38 notresponding to the pressure event. The hydraulic component 14 as a wholein the embodiment illustrated will always respond to a pressure event inthat the piston 28 will move. FIG. 4B illustrates a pressure event inthe unlocked condition. It will be appreciated that the piston 28 ismoved as it was in FIG. 2B but that this time, the mandrel 22 is notagainst the valve stem 36. Because of this change in condition, theinterlock feature 34, which may be a collet or similar, is allowed tosnap closed about valve stem 36. Notice that resilient member 58 iscompressed in FIG. 4B where is it relaxed in FIG. 4A. This compressionof spring 58 means that upon reduction of the pressure event applied tocause the interlock feature 34 to engage the valve stem 36, the spring58 will push the piston 28 back toward the space 52 taking valve stein36 and thereby hydraulic valve 38 with it such that the valve 10 is inthe position illustrated in FIG. 5. The flow port 46 is open in thisposition allowing fluid flow between the ID of the body 16 and thevolume outside of the body 16.

The valve 10 is resettable by shifting the mechanical component 12 backto the position shown in FIG. 2A. It is also noted that the mechanicalcomponent may include a profile 60 that is selected to each valve or isof the same shape for each valve with the purpose of allowing for theshifting tool (not shown) to engage the mechanical component forshifting its position from locked to unlocked or vice versa.

In another embodiment of a hydraulic component there is an indexingconfiguration allowing for multiple pressure cycles following unlockingof the mechanical component before the hydraulic component will completeits task of opening the hydraulic valve. This configuration allows forpressure testing of borehole tools prior to opening the hydraulic valve.Referring to FIGS. 6-8, an indexing configuration 70, such as a J-slot,is disposed in operable communication with the piston 28. In theillustrated embodiment and in comparison to the foregoing embodiment,one will appreciate that the configuration 70 simply replaced a portionof the longitudinal extent of piston 28. It is to be understood thatlength is relative and no limitation is intended hereby. Theconfiguration 70 interacts with a pin 72 extending from the pistonhousing. Upon pressure events in the tubing as in the foregoingembodiment, the piston 28 is moved leftwardly in the drawing (see FIG.7) causing the configuration 70 to cycle on the pin 72. This motion willcontinue daring subsequent pressure and pressure relief events until theconfiguration 70 reaches a position where the pin is allowed to movefurther allowing engagement of the interlock feature 34 with the valvestem (see FIG. 8). The number of pressure cycles for testing purposesprior to opening of the hydraulic valve may be selected at the time ofassembly of the tool either by selecting a configuration 70 having theappropriate number of cycles or by positioning a generic configuration70 so that a selected number of cycles remain before actuation ispossible.

The valve 10 may be used on its own, with a screen, in a multizoneconfiguration as in FIG. 9, etc.

In one iteration of a borehole system a lower completion comprises oneor more of the valves 10. These are run in the hole and deployed there.They will have no effect until a shifting tool is run to unlock themechanical components, normally carried out after or simultaneously withthe deployment of an upper completion. Thereafter, one or more of thevalves 10 may be opened pursuant to a pressure event caused bypressuring up on the tubing string that represents the upper and lowercompletions.

Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:

Embodiment 1

A mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valveincluding a mechanical component having a locked position and anunlocked position, a hydraulic component in operational communicationwith the mechanical component, the hydraulic component including aportion that is unresponsive to pressure events with the mechanicalcomponent in the locked position and responsive to pressure events withthe mechanical component in the unlocked position.

Embodiment 2

A valve as in any prior embodiment wherein the hydraulic component isresettable based upon a movement of the mechanical component from theunlocked position to the locked position.

Embodiment 3

A valve as in any prior embodiment wherein the mechanical componentcomprises a sleeve, and a mandrel movable therewith.

Embodiment 4

A valve as in any prior embodiment wherein the sleeve further includes aprofile configured to be engagable by a shifting tool.

Embodiment 5

A valve as in any prior embodiment wherein the profile is selective.

Embodiment 6

A valve as in any prior embodiment wherein the hydraulic componentcomprises a piston having an interlock feature configured to connect thepiston to a hydraulic valve.

Embodiment 7

A valve as in any prior embodiment wherein the hydraulic componentfurther includes a resilient member interactive with the piston.

Embodiment 8

A valve as in any prior embodiment wherein the piston is receptive of amandrel portion of the mechanical component, the mandrel component whenthe mechanical component is in the locked position preventing movementof the hydraulic valve.

Embodiment 9

A valve as in any prior embodiment wherein the mandrel position eitherallows or prevents operation of the interlock feature.

Embodiment 10

A valve as in any prior embodiment further including a screen.

Embodiment 11

A valve as in any prior embodiment wherein the hydraulic componentfurther includes an indexing configuration.

Embodiment 12

A valve as in any prior embodiment wherein the indexing configuration isa J-slot.

Embodiment 13

A borehole system including a string disposed within a borehole, thestring including a valve as in any prior embodiment.

Embodiment 14

A method of operating a mechanically lockable and unlockablehydraulically activated valve for a borehole includes shifting amechanical component of the mechanically lockable and unlockablehydraulically activated valve from a locked position to an unlockedposition, inducing a differential pressure on a hydraulic component ofthe mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valve,opening a hydraulic valve of the mechanically lockable and unlockablehydraulically activated valve.

Embodiment 15

The method of operating a mechanically lockable and unlockablehydraulically activated valve as in any prior embodiment furthercomprising reshifting the mechanical component from the unlockedposition to the locked position.

Embodiment 16

The method of operating a mechanically lockable and unlockablehydraulically activated valve as in any prior embodiment wherein thereshifting includes mechanically closing the hydraulic valve with themechanical component.

Embodiment 17

The method of operating a mechanically lockable and unlockablehydraulically activated valve as in any prior embodiment wherein theopening is by reducing applied pressure.

Embodiment 18

The method of operating a mechanically lockable and unlockablehydraulically activated valve as in any prior embodiment wherein theopening includes permitting movement due to expansion of a resilientmember.

Embodiment 19

The method of operating a mechanically lockable and unlockablehydraulically activated valve as in any prior embodiment wherein theinducing is more than one time before opening of the hydraulic valve.

Embodiment 20

The method of operating a mechanically lockable and unlockablehydraulically activated valve as in any prior embodiment wherein theinducing cycles a J-slot configuration.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. Further, it should further be noted that the terms “first,”“second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, orimportance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another.The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive ofthe stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., itincludes the degree of error associated with measurement of theparticular quantity).

The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of welloperations. These operations may involve using one or more treatmentagents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, awellbore, and/or equipment in the wellbore, such as production tubing.The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids,semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agentsinclude, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water,brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drillingmuds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc.Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulicfracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steaminjection, water flooding, cementing, etc.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplaryembodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in theart that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substitutedfor elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention.In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particularsituation or material to the teachings of the invention withoutdeparting from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intendedthat the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosedas the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but thatthe invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope ofthe claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have beendisclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specificterms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in ageneric and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation,the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valve comprising: a mechanical component having a locked position and an unlocked position; a hydraulic component in operational communication with the mechanical component, the hydraulic component including a portion that is unresponsive to pressure events with the mechanical component in the locked position and responsive to pressure events with the mechanical component in the unlocked position.
 2. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hydraulic component is resettable based upon a movement of the mechanical component from the unlocked position to the locked position.
 3. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mechanical component comprises a sleeve, and a mandrel movable therewith.
 4. A valve as claimed in claim 3 wherein the sleeve further includes a profile configured to be engagable by a shifting tool.
 5. A valve as claimed in claim 4 wherein the profile is selective.
 6. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hydraulic component comprises a piston having an interlock feature configured to connect the piston to a hydraulic valve.
 7. A valve as claimed in claim 6 wherein the hydraulic component further includes a resilient member interactive with the piston.
 8. A valve as claimed in claim 6 wherein the piston is receptive of a mandrel portion of the mechanical component, the mandrel component when the mechanical component is in the locked position preventing movement of the hydraulic valve.
 9. A valve as claimed in claim 8 wherein the mandrel position either allows or prevents operation of the interlock feature.
 10. A valve as claimed in claim 1 further including a screen.
 11. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hydraulic component further includes an indexing configuration.
 12. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the indexing configuration is a J-slot.
 13. A borehole system comprising: a string disposed within a borehole, the string including a valve as claimed in claim
 1. 14. A method of operating a mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valve for a borehole comprising: shifting a mechanical component of the mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valve from a locked position to an unlocked position; inducing a differential pressure on a hydraulic component of the mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valve; opening a hydraulic valve of the mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valve.
 15. The method of operating a mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valve as claimed in claim 14 further comprising reshifting the mechanical component from the unlocked position to the locked position.
 16. The method of operating a mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valve as claimed in claim 15 wherein the reshifting includes mechanically closing the hydraulic valve with the mechanical component.
 17. The method of operating a mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valve as claimed in claim 14 wherein the opening is by reducing applied pressure.
 18. The method of operating a mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valve as claimed in claim 14 wherein the opening includes permitting movement due to expansion of a resilient member.
 19. The method of operating a mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valve as claimed in claim 14 wherein the inducing is more than one time before opening of the hydraulic valve.
 20. The method of operating a mechanically lockable and unlockable hydraulically activated valve as claimed in claim 14 wherein the inducing cycles a J-slot configuration. 